Aramis Ramirezcurrently leads all of baseball in extra base hits (59) and doubles (40). He’s on pace for 54 two-baggers this season, which would surpass the Brewers franchise record of 53 doubles set by Lyle Overbay in 2004.

Surprised?

Many Cubs fans thought the Brewers were insane for signing the 34-year-old Ramirez to a 3yr-$36M deal this offseason. How quickly they forget he won the Silver Slugger Award last season.

MORE HARWARE FOR ARAMIS?

Aramis hasn’t skipped a beat since joining Milwaukee. Following his typical slow start at the plate he’s hit .322 over his last 74 games raising his batting average from .218 to .288 to go along with 17 HR & 72 RBI all totaled.

At this rate he’ll challenge David Wright (.320, 16 HR, 75 RBI) during the next six weeks to defend his Silver Slugger title. And that’s not all.

Ramirez also has the highest fielding percentage (.973) and fewest number of errors (6) of any National League third baseman. A Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award in the same season?

Who would’ve thunk it?

I’m not suggesting the Cubs were fools for not re-signing Ramirez. His nine seasons spent on the North Side were highly productive, if not under-valued, but his time was up.

Aramis had clearlysoured professionally under Mike Quade, and at the tail end of his career he didn’t appear interested, or willing, to invest in the Cubs lengthy rebuilding process. Who could blame him?

MR. CLUTCH

I gave Ramirez the nickname ‘Mr. Clutch’ for obvious reasons;he delivered more big-hitsthan any other Cub I can remember since his first season with Chicago in 2003.

A-Ram’s long been one of my favorite players, and always one of my favorite Cubs. He was also arguably the best acquisition Jim Hendry ever made as the Cubs GM, and unquestionably, the MVP of both the Cubs last two division winning teams in 2007-08.

But even so, Ramirez spent the better part of his Cubs tenure quietly going about his businessin the shadow of Sammy Sosa and Carlos Zambrano, among others. Few, if any, however, actually outperformed him.

Yep. Aramis hit .295, 4 HR, 15 RBI in June and took off from there. The Brewers were already fourth in the division by that time.

Cubs were fortunate to have Ramirez in his prime. Nearly everything worked out as planned for Hendry in 2008, but the GM gambled too far, the championship window shut and the clock started ticking on Aramis’ departure.

Everybody moves on, but man, A-Ram sure was stellar for a nice long run on the North Side.